Spare ammunition magazine case

ABSTRACT

A case to hold spare ammunition magazines for a machine pistol. The case includes a pocket dimensioned to accommodate at least two magazines with the left side of one facing the right side of the other, and with the flange end of each protruding from the pocket. The case has a first strap that can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the first magazine, and a second strap than can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the second magazine. The second strap has a set back portion of its inner edge such that when the first strap is opened, the second strap allows greater access to the protruding end of the first magazine. 
     The case also has a divider that separates the pocket into two portions, one to accommodate each magazine, and that provides a gap between the protruding ends of the magazines.

The present subject-matter relates to cases for carrying spare ammunition magazines, particularly cases that are adapted to be mounted to a belt such as a law enforcement officer's duty belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many law enforcement professionals usually wear duty belts with equipment that includes a holstered hand-gun and spare ammunition. The service revolver has largely been replaced by machine pistols, such as the Glock 17, which has a 17 round magazine that slides into the bottom of the handgrip. Increasingly, North-American police forces require officers to carry two spare ammunition magazines in a case that attaches to the duty belt. The position of the spare magazine case on the belt and the position of the magazines in the case are critical because they can limit the speed of access to the magazines when re-loading the hand gun in a stressful situation. However, the size of the case must be as small as possible and its position on the belt must be comfortable for the police officer.

The magazines for machine pistols most commonly used by law enforcement officers are generally parallelepiped, with a left and right sides that are wider than the front and back. (The shape and size of the magazine depends on the shape and size of the cartridges, which are often arranged in a double row within the magazine.) A flange on one end of the magazine abuts against the handgrip of the gun when the magazine is fully loaded.

Spare magazine cases usually comprise either one double pocket or two individual pockets. A common double magazine case has two chambers, one for each magazine, separated by a valley. Each magazine is covered by a strap that can secure to the front of the case by Velcro™ type material and/or a dome snap.

The common double magazine case is oriented generally with the magazines being horizontal, i.e. parallel to the belt. If the magazines are oriented vertically, i.e. perpendicular to the belt, they protrude considerably above and below the belt which is often more uncomfortable for the officer.

The magazines in a common double magazine case are oriented similarly with the left (or right) sides facing toward the belt and the flanges of each pointing in the same direction. The drawback of this case is that it is large and uncomfortable. The magazines could be placed closer together if they were oriented in a mirror image, with the bottom flanges facing in opposite directions. However, this could cause the police officer to fumble when reloading because the second magazine would be oriented oppositely from the first one, requiring turning one of the magazines when reloading the gun.

In another common design, the two magazines rest side by side with their backs facing toward the belt and the bottom flanges both protruding forwardly. Although this case is compact, compared to some other designs, it is considerably more difficult to grasp and remove the magazines from the case, particularly the first magazine, because there is very little space between the two magazines for an officer to place a grasping finger.

In another design, the two magazines rest side by side each in a separate pocket, with the backs of the magazines facing toward the belt, and the pockets are separated by a section providing a gap between the magazines. The space between the magazines makes access of a magazine easier but the magazine case is wider and more uncomfortable for the officer, especially when sitting on duty for the long hours.

Thus, the known magazine cases mentioned above do not fully satisfy the major requirements of being compact, comfortable and offering ready access to the magazines in a stressful re-load situation.

SUMMARY

The following summary is intended to introduce the reader to the more detailed description that follows, and not to define or limit the claimed subject matter.

According to one aspect, a case is provided to hold at least two spare ammunition magazines for a machine pistol, the magazines being generally parallelepiped, with a right side and a left side that are wider than the front and back, and a flange at one end that slopes from the back to the front. The case is adapted to be mounted to a belt, for example, a law enforcement professional's duty belt.

The case includes a pocket dimensioned to accommodate a first magazine and a second magazine with the left side of one facing the right side of the other and with the flange end of each protruding from the pocket and sloping in the same direction. The case has a first strap that can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the first magazine and to hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the first magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket.

The case also has a second strap than can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the second magazine and hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the second magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket. The second strap has a set back portion of its inner edge such that when the first strap is opened, the second strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the first magazine than if the inner edge of the second strap were straight.

The case also has a divider that separates the pocket into a first portion that accommodates the first magazine and a second portion that accommodates the second magazine and provides a gap between the first magazine and the second magazine.

In some embodiments, the divider positions the first magazine and the second magazine on an incline relative to each other inside the pocket such that their protruding flange ends are more separated than their non-flange ends within the pocket. In some examples, the divider positions the magazines on an incline relative to each other inside the pocket at an angle between about 1 degree and about 10 degrees. In some examples, the divider comprises a plurality of stackable bent strips.

In some embodiments, the inner edge of the second strap has a concave curved portion. In some examples, the pocket is slightly tapered, having side walls that are inclines relative to each other at an angle between about 1 degree and about 10 degrees.

In some embodiments, the first strap also has a set back portion of its inner edge such that when the second strap is opened, the first strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the second magazine than if the inner edge of the first strap were straight. In some examples, the inner edge of the first strap has a concave curved portion.

In some embodiments, the first and second straps can be held closed by means of dome fasteners. In some examples, the straps can be held closed by means of hook and loop material.

In some embodiments, the pocket of the case includes an inner liner. In some examples, the inner liner defines a first compartment within the first portion of the pocket, and a second compartment within the second portion of the pocket, the compartments being adapted to accommodate the first and second magazines, respectively.

According to another aspect, a case is provided to hold at least two spare ammunition magazines for a machine pistol, the magazines being generally parallelepiped, with a right side and a left side that are wider than the front and back, and a flange at one end that slopes from the back to the front. The case is adapted to be mounted to a belt, such as a law enforcement professional's duty belt.

The case includes a pocket dimensioned to accommodate a first magazine and a second magazine with the left side of one facing the right side of the other and with the flange end of each protruding from the pocket and sloping in the same direction. The case has a first strap that can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the first magazine and to hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the first magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket.

The case also has a second strap than can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the second magazine and hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the second magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket. The case also has a divider that separates the pocket into a first portion that accommodates the first magazine and a second portion that accommodates the second magazine and provides a gap between the first magazine and the second magazine. The divider positions the first magazine and the second magazine on an incline relative to each other inside the pocket such that their protruding flange ends are more separated than their non-flange ends within the pocket.

The present machine pistol spare ammunition magazine case provides much better access so that a police officer can get a good grasp on the contained spare magazines to load it into a pistol.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following drawings represent non-limitative examples, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a magazine case according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the same magazine case with both of its two straps closed;

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the same magazine case with one strap open and the other strap closed;

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional elevation view of the same magazine case with both straps open.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to the figures, a magazine case 10 includes a pocket 12 with a first side wall 18 and a second side wall, a front wall 22 and a back wall.

The magazine case 10 is sized to accommodate a first magazine 34 and a second magazine 40. The first magazine 34 and the second magazine 40 are side by side, with the left side of one facing the right side of the other. The flange end of each protrudes from the pocket 12, and each is oriented with the flange sloping downwardly away from the back of the pocket 12.

In this embodiment, the magazine case 10 has a single pocket 12 with a first strap 26 and a second strap 28. The first strap 26 and second strap 28 are connected or attached to the back wall of the pocket 12. The first strap 26 is designed such that it covers and wraps over the first magazine 34 to retain the first magazine 34 in the pocket 12. The first strap 26 may be closed onto the front wall 22 by a first fastener 30. The second strap 28 is designed such that it covers and wraps over around the second magazine 40 to retain the second magazine 40 in the pocket 12. The second strap 28 may be closed onto the front wall 22 by a second fastener 38.

The first fastener 30,30 a,30 b and the second fastener 38 may be dome snap fasteners. The inner side of the first strap 26, the inner side of the second strap 28, and the top portion of the front wall 22 of the pocket 12 may be covered with hook and loop material, for example Velcro™, such that the first strap 26 and the second strap 28 may be affixed to the front wall 22 of the pocket 12. Dome snap fasteners and hook and loop material may be used separately or together in different embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the top portion 42 of the first strap 26 and the top portion 44 of the second strap 28 are designed to be wide enough not to slip on the sides of the first and the second magazines 34,40 and to secure and hold the magazines 34,40 in the pocket 12. The wide top portions 42 and 44 of the straps at the top of the magazine case 10 prevent the magazines 34,40 from falling out unintentionally during various physical activities that a police officer may undergo.

The inner edge of at least one strap has a reduced width portion to ease the access to the magazine held by the other strap when that other strap is opened. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inner edge 48 of the second strap 28 has a concave form such that when the first strap 26 is open and the second strap 28 is closed, the second strap 28 does not interfere with the police officer's placing his finger on the inner side of the first magazine 34 that is to be removed from the case.

The inner edge 46 of the first strap 26 is also concave. The mirror image concave portions of the edges 46 and 48 may be limited to the portions required for at least one finger access.

Referring now to FIG. 3, wherein illustrated is the front view of the magazine case 10 with the first strap 26 open and the second strap 28 closed. When the police officer opens the first strap 26 to access the first magazine 34, the second magazine 40 rests securely fastened by the second strap 28. The concave edge 48 of the second strap 28 provides a set back recess that facilitates grasping of the first magazine. Alternatively, for example, when the police officer opens the second strap 28 to access the second magazine 40, the first magazine 34 rests securely fastened by the first strap 26. The concave edge 46 of the first strap 26 facilitates grasping of the second magazine.

Referring now to FIG. 4, wherein illustrated is a cross-section of the magazine case 10 with both the first strap 26 and the second strap 28 open. The first magazine 34 and the second magazine 40 are separated inside the magazine case 10 by a divider 60 having a first edge 62 and a second edge 64. The divider 60 keeps the flanges of the two magazines at a distance sufficient for the officer to grab one magazine at a time. For example, the divider 60 may separate the pocket 12 into a first portion to fit the first magazine 34 and a second portion to fit the second magazine 40.

The divider 60 is designed such that the edge 62 and the edge 64 are inclined with respect to each other and form an angle of between about 1 and about 10 degrees in order to guide apart and provide space between the protruding flange end 50 of the first magazine 34 and the protruding flange end 54 of the second magazine 40. The divider 60 thus provides an angle between about 1 and about 10 degrees between the facing side walls of the magazines 34, 40 when the magazines 34,40 are in the pocket 12 of the magazine case 10.

The space or gap formed between the flange end 50 of the first magazine 34 and the flange end 54 of the second magazine 40 may be designed such that at least one finger of an officer may fit between them and the officer may thus grasp one of the magazines. The bottom portion 70 of the divider 60 may be narrower and the non-flange ends 56 and 58 of the magazines 34,40 are closer. Thus, the non-flange end 56 of the first magazine 34 and the non-flange end 58 of the second magazine 40 inserted deeper in the pocket 12 of the case 10, are in closer proximity to each other than the flange end 50 of the first magazine 34 and the flange end 54 of the second magazine 40.

The two magazines are thus arranged in a slight “V” rather than being parallel, defining an angle of between about 1 and about 10 degrees between side walls of the magazines 34,40. Thus, the divider 60 keeps the two magazines within the case separate and oriented at a slight “V”. As a result, the protruding flange ends 50,54 of the two magazines 34,40 are separated by a gap, even though the non-flange ends 56,58 of the two magazines 34,40 inserted deeper in the case 10 are in closer proximity to each other.

The divider 60 may be integral with an inner liner that defines a first compartment within the first portion of the pocket 12 and a second compartment within the second portion of the pocket 12, the compartments being adapted to accommodate the first and second magazines, respectively.

The magazine case 10 may be made of leather, Nytek or Nylon, or other suitable material.

In some embodiments, the magazine case 10 has a Duckbill™ fastening system as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,225,976 which ensures that the magazine case 10 does not slide on the duty belt.

The width and the form of the divider 60 may be adapted for the magazine case 10 to hold magazines of various sizes. In some embodiments, the divider 60 may comprise a plurality of stackable bent strips which could increase the width of the divider and change its form each time a new stackable bent strip is inserted.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the above alternative embodiments have been described in some detail many modifications may be practiced without departing from the claimed subject matter. 

1. A case adapted to be mounted to a belt to hold at least two spare ammunition magazines for a machine pistol, the magazines being generally parallelepiped, with a right side and a left side that are wider than the front and back, and a flange at one end that slopes from the back to the front, the case comprising: a pocket dimensioned to accommodate a first magazine and a second magazine with the left side of one facing the right side of the other and with the flange end of each protruding from the pocket and sloping in the same direction; a first strap that can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the first magazine and hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the first magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket; a second strap that can be closed to cover the protruding flange end of the second magazine and hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the second magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket; the second strap having a set back portion of its inner edge such that when the first strap is opened, the second strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the first magazine than if the inner edge of the second strap were straight; a divider that separates the pocket into a first portion that accommodates the first magazine and a second portion that accommodates the second magazine and provides a gap between the first magazine and the second magazine.
 2. The magazine case of claim 1 wherein the divider positions the first magazine and the second magazine on an incline relative to each other inside the pocket such that their protruding flange ends are more separated than their non-flange ends within the pocket.
 3. The magazine case of claim 2 wherein the divider positions the magazines on an incline relative to each other inside the pocket at an angle between about 1 degree and about 10 degrees.
 4. The magazine case of claim 1 wherein the inner edge of the second strap has a concave curved portion.
 5. The magazine case of claim 2 wherein the divider comprises a plurality of stackable bent strips.
 6. The magazine case of claim 2 wherein the pocket is slightly tapered, having side walls that are inclined relative to each other at an angle between about 1 degree and about 10 degrees.
 7. The magazine case of claim 1 wherein the first strap has a set back portion of its inner edge such that when the second strap is opened, the first strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the second magazine than if the inner edge of the first strap were straight.
 8. The magazine case of claim 7 wherein the inner edge of the first strap has a concave curved portion.
 9. The magazine case of claim 2 wherein the first strap has a set back portion of its inner edge such that when the second strap is opened, the first strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the second magazine than if the inner edge of the first strap were straight.
 10. The magazine case of claim 9 wherein the inner edge of the first strap has a concave curved portion.
 11. The magazine case of claim 1 wherein the first and second straps can be held closed by means of dome fasteners.
 12. The magazine case of claim 1 wherein the straps can be held closed by means of hook and loop material.
 13. The magazine case of claim 8 wherein the first and second straps can be held closed by means of dome fasteners.
 14. The magazine case of claim 8 wherein the straps can be held closed by means of hook and loop material.
 15. The magazine case of claim 1 wherein the pocket includes an inner liner.
 16. The magazine case of claim 8 wherein the pocket includes an inner liner.
 17. The magazine case of claim 16 wherein the inner liner defines a first compartment within the first portion of the pocket, and a second compartment within the second portion of the pocket, the compartments being adapted to accommodate the first and second magazines, respectively.
 18. The magazine case of claim 4 wherein the first strap has a concave curved portion of its inner edge such that when the second strap is opened, the first strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the second magazine than if the inner edge of the first strap were straight.
 19. The magazine case of claim 2 wherein the inner edge of the second strap has a concave curved portion, and wherein the first strap has an opposed concave curved portion of its inner edge such that when the second strap is opened, the first strap allows greater access to the protruding flange end of the second magazine than if the inner edge of the first strap were straight.
 20. A case adapted to be mounted to a belt to hold at least two spare ammunition magazines for a machine pistol, the magazines being generally parallelepiped, with a right side and a left side that are wider than the front and back, and a flange at one end that slopes from the back to the front, the case comprising: a pocket dimensioned to accommodate a first magazine and a second magazine with the left side of one facing the right side of the other and with the flanged end of each protruding from the pocket and sloping in the same direction; a first strap that can be closed to cover the protruding of the first magazine and hold it in the pocket, or opened to allow the first magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket; a second strap that can be closed to cover the protruding portion of the second magazine and to hold the second magazine in the pocket or opened to allow the second magazine to be grasped and removed from the pocket; a divider that separates the pocket into a first portion that accommodates the first magazine and a second portion that accommodates the second magazine and provides a gap between the first magazine and the second magazine, the divider positioning the first magazine and the second magazine on an incline relative to each other inside the pocket such that their protruding flange ends are more separated than their non-flange ends within the pocket. 